fastvee

I am a proud new owner of a 1978 Winnebago Brave motorhome with the optional 440-3 engine and torqueflite trans. The first item on my repair list is an exhaust leak at the manifold, which I understand is a common problem. I want to install a good set of headers, and the major header companies all listed one for this application with 3/8" thick flanges, 14 Ga. primary tubes, and coated. The problem is that Doug Thorley's P/N has been discontinued, and Hedman's and Hooker's notes say the they will not fit the 440-3 engine. This seems strange because as far as I know that is the only 440 engine that came in these motorhomes in the late 70's. I haven't pulled those bulbous old manifolds yet, but I understand the issue is a lip that that is cast into the top of the gasket surface on the head which won't let the header sit flush. It's hard to believe the header manufacturers wouldn't have found a way to deal with this, and of course there is little incentive to do it now. It was time to seek out some Dodge big block experts for a straight answer. I'm not pulling the heads to machine the lip , if that's even possible, and am asking if anyone has been successful in modifying headers to fit a 440-3? New manifolds are available, but I believe a good set of headers will be a very worthwhile improvement. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
John
fastvee@yahoo.com

mopar777

id say save the machine work and expensive custom header stuff.
just find a set of trust 906's and bolt them on =]

62Furious

swap out a set of heads, sounds to easy, therefore something will go wrong, make sure to check out to see if all holes are tapped for assesories